Prince Claus Award winner asked to design stage

Colombian Simón Vélez who is known for his modern use of bamboo in architecture has been asked to design an open air stage in north Amsterdam.

Amsterdam – The winner of Principal 2009 Prince Claus Award, Colombian architect Simón Vélez, has been asked to design an open air stage in the Dutch capital Amsterdam.

Velez has been asked by the Prince Claus Fund to design a new cultural centre which will be located in the grounds of the former Shell building in north Amsterdam.

This will be the first building the architect has designed for the Netherlands’ capital.

The architect who is known for his aesthetic and technical innovations in bamboo will be receiving the Great Prince Claus Award of EUR 100,000 Wednesday afternoon for his innovative and ethic use of materials. The Prince Claus Awards also include 10 prizes worth EUR 25,000

As the theme of this year is culture and nature, prize winners are awarded for the outstanding way they use nature in the work. In doing so they contribute to seeking solutions for climate change.

Vélez won the award by designing a Gothic church made of huge arching bamboo poles in Cartegena in Colombia.

Prince Claus who died in 2002 is the late husband of Queen Beatrix. The fund was set up in 2006 in honour of his 70th birthday for his contribution to development cooperation. The fund believes stimulating ideas is the best way to encourage development. The prize is awarded annually to artists in Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Caribbean.